Stacking device



. 1 March 8, 1927. G. A. BELL ET AL ,620 058 smcxme- DEVICE Filed March a, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

A TTORNEYS.

6. A. BELL ET AL STACKING DEVICE Filed March a. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 8 1927.

L i v R Y map E V3 N a 6 Var T A a T a 7 5 w ml m .lz A /9 4 11:11:! 1 L m n a n m Llnlf. IIHF Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

1 units STis lTli S treatise m stir orifice.

GEORGEIA. BELL AND JOHN H. CARSGN; OFIVI ARI ONL INQIAN'A, ASSIGNORQTOIN'DIKNA FIBRE PRQDUCTS GOI'JZPANY, F MARION} INDIAN-A, A OORE ORATION.

STA-GKING nnvicn.

ApplicationfilectMarch 8, 1928. Serial No, 523,351.:

This invention pertains to a receiving,

stacking and counting device for use in connection with; pie plate machines or any other machine of this character which prints ticularl adapted for use in connection with a pie plate cutting and forming, n' aichine of the character set orth and described inmy copcna'ling application; gerial No. tiled March 8,. 1926 wherein paper pie-plates are cutfrom a paper strip into blank form, thereafter pressed or formed by a suitable die and discharged onto an endless belt. As above stated, the device may receive, stack and count similar articles, plates, and it is not desired that. the invention be limited thereto.

i lie object of the invention is to provide a receiving device for the plates as they are.

discharged from the endless belt the device stacking them one on top-of the. other int-the same manner that they are toxbe packed and shipped. At the same time the. plates are counted so that the device automatically starts a new pile after receiving a givenuumber ofplates. This eliminates the necessity of stacking and counting the plates by hand and affords a convenient method: of receiving theplates from the conveyor belt.

The full nature of, the invention will beunderstood from! the accompanying drawings and the following descriptionand claims:

In the drawings,,Figure 1 is a plan View. looking down on the, device, shown in receiving position. Fig.2 is the samoas Fig. 1, showing a portion ofthe mechanisinafterthe first stack has been complcted for preventingfurither plates fromfalling thereon. Fig. 3 is-a front elevation ofthe device. Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof showing-the device in open position. Fig. 5-isthe same as Fig. 4; showing themlevice in closed position after the first stackhas-been completed. Fig. (3 is a section tahen on the'line (i -f Fig. Fig. 7- is a modified formshowing: a front elevation of one of the receptacles with the removable guard: hingcdi thereto.

lnthe drawings, referring particularly to Fig. 4, there. isshown ,avreceiving mechanism is par I as well as pieillustrating the agitating mechanism.

comprising anupright frame 110, in which is mounted a plurality of upright cylindrical receptacles 11, the lower portion of said re ceptacleshaving their front face open, while the upper: portion thereof is completely enclosed withthe exception-of avvertical slot l2 formed in the front face thereof; In other words, that portion of the receptaclebelow the horizontal table} 13 mounted on said frame hast-he entire front-half out away 01 open, while that portion extending. above the table 13 is closed. with. the exception ofthe slot. There is shown herein an! upwardly ex.- tending frame 14 about whichthe endless conveying belt'15 passes supported upon the rollers 16 atthe top and the-roller 1.7 at the bottom. The plate cut-ting and-forming ma chine, not shown herein, isadaptedto dis charge the pie plates 18 on saidlconveyorbelt at the bottom thereof, said belt being adapts ed to carry the plates upwardly and discharge them into the open tops of the receptacles 11.

l Vhen the plates fall into said. receptacle;-

they are caused. to assume a. horizontal posi-- tion by reason of the'air resistance within the receptacle, but are penmltted to-readilpdro through. the upperportion 'thcr-eofi and. onto the pile accumulating at the bottom, since the airmay readily escapethrougheithen the slot 12 or the open face of the cylinden. In order that the plates will! ultimately lie flat, one upon top-of the other, and seat snugly within eachother, the pileof plates accumulating.- in the receptacle is-agitated, as will hereinafter be described; For the purpose of agitating the. plates, each receptacle is provided with; a; pivotal ly mounted bottom 1 9 pivotedto the bottom-2O of the frame through themedium of a rod 21 extending: through the downwardlyextending ears22}. The rod 21 isprovided' with an upwardly extending arm-23 which'is pivotallyconnected to a rod 24,.whichin= turn is connected to a crank arm-25 connected with theroller. L7; so that rotary. movement of. the 1 roller 17 will impart a reoiprocatory movement to said rod: and causethe bottomplates 19 inveach of the receptacles to oscillate about the rod 21, and

thereby continuously agitate the plates so. as.

to cause them to settle in the proper position.

For the purposeofliiniting the number of plates. deposited in the staclgthcre is pro vided a cut-ofi' mechanism adjacent the table I 13 near the top of the receptacles. Said cutoff mechanism comprises the sliding gates 26 and 126, whichare adapted to slide through suitable slots oppositely disposed in the receptacles so as to meet each otherin the back and forth through the medium of the rigidly connected to each of the shafts 28 and 29. At the end of each of said shafts 1 there are keyed the inwardly extending arms 33 having the links 34 pivotally connecting their free ends to the hand lever 35. Said hand lever has one end connected to a table at 36 and is provided with a latch bar 37 pivotally connected to the base at the other end thereof and extending downwardly in position to engage a keeper 38. The latch bar is connected by a spring 39 to the lever .35 so that when said lever is manually forced downward to the position shown in Fig. 4, the spring will pull the latch bar into latching engagement with the keeper.

In order that the plates may be properly counted, the roller 17 is of such dimensions as to make one revolution every time a set of plates is deposited by the machine on the belt 15. Therefore, there will be one plate delivered to each pile for each revolution of said roller, or one cycle of movement of the connecting rod 24. By reason of a pin and slot engagement, the rod 24 is connected with a lever 40 which is fulcrumed to the machine at 41, the upper end of said lever being pivotally connected with a sliding bar 42, having on its free end a pawl 43. The ratchet wheel 44 is mounted on the 'side of the frame having a plurality of ratchet teeth adapted to be engaged by the pawl 43. Upon each cycle of movement of plates deposited in the pile upon one revolu tion' of the wheel. If it is desired that there be one hundred plates deposited in the pile, there is a reduction in gearing of five to one between the ratchet wheel 44 andthe gear wheel 45 through the medium of a pinion 46 or the like. Accordingly there would be one hundred plates deposited upon one revolution of the gear 45. The ratchet wheel is supported by a plate 47 mounted on the frame at the end of the device, and is positioned on the exterior side thereof, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The shaft upon which it is mounted extends through the plate and is provided on the opposite side thereof with a pinion 46, shown in dotted lines, said pinion being adapted to mesh with the teeth on the gear 45 which is also on the opposite side of the plate. The gear 45 is mounted on a shaft 49 extending through the plate and provided with a cam 50 which is in position to engage the latch bar 37 and force it out of latching engagement with the keeper 38, as shown in Fig. 5. Accordingly, upon every revolution of the cam 50, five revolutions of the wheel 44 and one hundred revolutions of the roller 17, the latch bar is released, which permits the lever 35 to be raised by the tension of the spring 31, which closes the gates 26, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The receptacles would then contain one hundred plates each.

As they continue to be discharged, they would restupon the gates 26 and be held in that position while the operator is removing the stack from the lower portion of the receptacle, the counting of the plates going on as before. After the operator has removed the stacked plates, the hand lever 35 is forced downward so as to overcome the tension of the spring 31, separate the gates 26 and 126 and cause the latch bar 37 to engage with the keeper, the cam again having passed out of engaging position therewith. The plates that have accumulated during this time at the top of the receptacle will then be permitted to drop onto the bottom.

and the fall thereof. as well as the counting, will continue as before.

v In order to guide the plates and keep them in proper line while dropping and being agitated in the receptacles, there is provided a guard comprising the upright rods 51 normally positioned directly in the center of the open portion of the receptacles. Said rods are mounted on a sliding frame 52, which is slidable between the bottom of the-frame and the table 13 so that when it is desired to remove the plates, the operator slides the gate to one side until the bars 51. register with the edges of the receptacles and are accordingly out of the way. After the plates have been removed, and the handle lever 35 is again actuated to permit the plates to drop into the receptacle, and guard is caused to slide back into the position shown in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that the receptacles can be of any desired shape, size or depth for receiving articles of various shapes and characill) descent in thelower portion aswv'ell' as the upper. portion.- Suchaguard may be slidably mounted; in the same manner as that shown in, E 1g; 3,; or it may behinged to the receptacle so as to swing 1I1tO OPQILPOSltlOlI' for removal of: the Fig: 7

The invention, claimed is 1, stacking device 015- the character described, including an. upright: receptacle, means for discharging-articlesto be stacked into the topithereof sons to-' settle towards the bottom, and: an agitatingmember mounted at the bottom of-said: receptacle for agitating the articles.- While stacking-so as to cause them to nest or-adjusttheir position" thereim 2; A stacking device of the characterde scribed, including an upright receptacle,

plates, as illustrated in means, for discharging articles tobe stacked into itheitop thereof sol-as to settle toward the" bottom,a pivot-ally, mounted agitating membenat the bottom ofr said receptacle positionedto agitate-the articles andicausethem to nest or adjust their position therein, and an actuating member connected therewith and: operated by said discharging means for reciprocating said. agitating member;

3-. A" stacking device-of: the character de-' scnibed includingan upright; receptacle, an endless belt associated therewith for convey; ing articles to be stacked to the top of said receptacle and discharging them therein, an agitating member mounted at the bottom of said receptacle on Which the stacked articles are adapted to rest, and means operated by the movement of said conveyor belt for actuating said member and causing it to agitate the articles during their stacking, whereby they will be caused to nest andadjust their position with respect to each other.

4. A stacking device of the character described, including an upright receptacle, a conveyor belt for conveying and discharging articles into the top of said receptacle, an agitating plate pivotally mounted at the bottom of said receptacle for supporting the articles being stacked, a. crank arm connected with said plate, a rotary member rotated by the movement of said conveyor belt, and a rod connecting said member and crank arm receptacle having an opening: in one side thereof extending throughout its: lowea portion and, an relatively narrow verticalzslot in the upper portion, means for discharging. articles to a be stacked into i the top thereof" so as' to pass through the upper portion and: settle: in the lower portion in stacked, nelai t-ion,and. a removable gu arch a-sscoi atedthe i ewith' in front of the open portion; for per mitting'removal of the: stacked: articles: and preventingtheir escape front said: receptacle duringthe stacking operation 7. A; stacking device of the-character de scribed, including air upright? receptacle, means for discharging articles to be stacked into the-top thereof, said receptacle having an air-opening in one face thereof for per mitt-mg the escape of air while the articles are settling: to the bottom, and: means for preventing the escape of; saidarticlesdur-- ing thei rstacking,- movement, and permitting the removal thereof after having. been stacked.

8. A stacking device on the charactendescribed; including: an upright receptacle, means for discharging articles to be stacked into the topithereof, a gate positioned adjacent the top ofsaid receptacle for closing the same after a; given number of articles have; been stacked therein, and means: for opening'andclosingsa-id gate;

9. A stacking device ofthe character-dc scribed; including: an upright receptacle, means: for discharging articles to be; stacked into the top thereof, and a gate positioned intermediate the ends of said receptacle for closing the same after a given number of articles have been received in the lower portion thereof and arresting and supporting the additional articles discharged therein Within the upper portionthereof.

10. A stacking device of the character de scribed, including an upright receptacle,

means fordischarging articles to be stacked into the top thereof, a gatepositioned intermediate the ends of said receptacle for closing the same after a given number of articles have been received in the lower portion thereof and arresting and supporting the additional articles discharged therein within the upper portion thereof, and counting mechanism controlled by the number of articles discharged therein for closing said gate.

11. A stacking device of the character described, including an upright receptacle, means for discharging articles to be stacked into the top thereof, a gate positioned intermediate theends of said receptacle for closing .the same after a given number of articles have been received in the lower portion thereof and arresting and supporting the additional articles discharged therein within the upper portion thereof, and a counting mechanism controlled through the medium of said discharging means for closing said gate after a given number ofarticles have been discharged to the lower portion of said receptacle.

12. VA. stacking device of the character described, including an upright receptacle, an endless conveyor belt for discharging articles to be stacked into the top thereof, a gate positionedintermediate the ends thereof for arresting and supporting the articles discharged therein after a given number of articles have been stacked below said gate in the lower portion of said receptacle, 'a ratchet wheel mounted on said device, means operated by the movement of said conveyor belt for actuatingsaid ratchet wheel upon the discharge of each article, and means operated by the movement of said ratchet Wheel for causing said gate to be closed upon a given number of said articles having been stacked in the lower portion of said receptacle.

13. A stacking device of the character described, including an upright receptacle, an endless conveyor belt for discharging articlesto be stacked into the top thereof, a gate portion intermediate the ends thereof for arresting and supporting the articles discharged therein after a given number of articles have been stacked below said gate in the lower portion of said receptacle, means for closing said gate, a ratchet wheel mounted on said device, means operated by the movement of said conveyor belt for actuating said ratchet wheel upon discharge of each article, means operated byv the movement of said ratchet wheel for permitting said closing means to function for 010s ing said gate, and means for opening said gate after the removal of the articles stacked therebelow, whereby the articles supported by said gate will be permitted to drop into stacking position.

14. A stacking device of the character described, including an upright receptacle, means for discharging articles to be stacked into the top thereof, means positioned at the bottom thereof for agitating said articles so as to cause them to nestle and position themselves with respect to each other, and means for arresting additional articles discharged therein after a given number of articles have been stacked.

15. A stacking device of the character described, including an upright receptacle having an opening in one face thereof through which the articles stacked therein may be removed, means for guarding said opening so as to permit air to be discharged therefrom during the falling movement of thearticles and prevent said articles from escaping, an endless belt for discharging articles to be stacked into the top thereof, an agitating member at the bottom of said receptacle for agitating the articles and causing them to nestle and position themselves with respect to each other, a gate intermediate the ends of said receptacle adapted to be closed upon a given number of articles having been stacked therein and arresting and supporting the additional articles discharged into the top thereof, means associated with said conveyor belt for actuating said agitating member, and means associated with said belt for causing said gate to close upon a given number of articles having been discharged into said receptacle.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto itfilXGCl our signatures.

GEORGE A. BELL. JOHN H. CARSON. 

